Work has begun on the I-74 and John Deere Road interchange reconstruction project, officials with the Illinois Department of Transportation said.
The two-year, $129 million project will convert the interchange from a cloverleaf design to a diverging diamond pattern, and add a lane in each direction to I-74, project officials said. The project is the final piece in making the interstate six lanes through the Quad Cities and enhancing mobility and safety in the region.
“Roadway improvements not only make travel safer, but also support local job creation, spur economic growth and enhance regional mobility,” Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said. “Fueled by Rebuild Illinois, the I-74 interstate reconstruction project ensures Illinoisans can access opportunities in the Quad City region and beyond.”
The project will see the rebuilding of the I-74 interchange with John Deere Road into a diverging diamond pattern, a change officials said will improve traffic flow and access to and from the interstate while increasing safety by reducing potential collision points. In some locations, the pattern has reduced crashes by half. Officials said the design will essentially route vehicles to the opposite side of John Deere Road and eliminate left turns across traffic entering and exiting I-74.
Once complete, it will be the first interchange in the diverging diamond pattern in the Quad Cities, and the 10th in the state.
“We are excited to get started on our next diverging diamond interchange, a popular and innovative approach to reduce congestion and improve safety,” Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi said. “In every corner of Illinois, we are working with our local partners to deliver projects like this one to set up communities for long-term success.”
Other components to the project include: reconstructing I-74 to three lanes in each direction between 27th Street and the Rock River; rebuilding John Deere Road between 16th and 38th streets; and replacing bridges over 27th Street.
“Today’s event is an important step to make I-74 safer, with a modern interchange,” U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill) said. “This project highlights the local, regional, state and federal commitment to modernize our roads and improve travel.”